Can I play football?” “How much time is in-between classes?” “If I stay for a club, how do I get home?
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders had an opportunity to ask these questions and more at John Jay Middle School’s New Family Orientation. The late August gathering was specifically for families who have just moved to the District. It was shaped to support their sense of belonging in the middle school’s learning community from Day 1. Actually, before Day 1!
The event began in the middle school library. Principal Jeff Swiatowicz helped parents and students feel at ease by asking where families had moved from: Brooklyn, Alabama, even England!
“This school might feel very big to you," he said, “but we do our best job to make it feel very small.” He reminded sixth and seventh graders that they are on academic teams. “You’ll meet classmates from other teams during Unified Arts classes and connect with students in other grades during homebase and through clubs.”
Sixth Grade Counselor AnneMarie MacSweeney was one of the tour guides who took a group of sixth graders around the building. She shared tips and tricks to navigating the school as they walked, including a shortcut between the Old Gym and the New Gym and how to fit a backpack in a locker (empty it first!).
“Follow your nose to find Home and Careers,” she said. “They are often baking something yummy in there!”
She also reviewed locker stops—times built into the day for exchanging learning materials, and how to use the Late Bus. One last tip. “Get into the habit of charging your device each night,” she said. “Start the day prepared and ready to go.”